I'm evaluating the trial version of MCRS Recording Software for a client. I've been evaluating packages for the last month trying to find the right fit.

While I love all the options available with this system, I have a requirement from the user that I don't see how to fulfill with the current version software. I really hope it is possible.

I need to record conversations at airports around the country between the aircraft pilots and our employees on designated company frequencies. Each station uses 3 different frequencies to simultaneously communicate between the various support team members and the flight crew.

I want to continuously record 24/7 using voice activation and create a new file every hour. So far I know the MCRS program can do that.

Here’s the important requirement.

When an event occurs our employees log the date and time of the event and notify management of the event:

Management needs to:
..access the correct audio file,
..load the file,
..quickly access the correct location of the event in the file via a date/time code,
..mark the beginning and end points of the event,
..extract the event from the file,
..save as a separate file,
..the email file to corporate office.

I can do all of the above with a simple $30 program from SageBrush Systems, Inc called RecAll-Pro

My reason for asking the question is I’m looking for a high caliber company with good support that can handle supporting my needs of 3-8 simultaneous streams at each site across the United States at our various offices.

Having the date time hard coded into the stream allows us to prove to our clients and the government (FAA) what happened .... and more importantly exactly when it happened.

We will use this tool mainly for "CYA" purposes
.... (Cover Your Ahhh Behind)

Now if you really want to drive your programming team crazy... Look into this possibility:

You have the ability to record multiple tracks. What about playing back the same number of tracks as recorded... at the same time. Playback should sync up all recorded tracks via date time.

playback tracks could be sent to left and right channel on each sound card attached to the system.

One last thought... your trial version should allow testing on multiple channels

A technical support department that actually monitors their support board. I've been evaluating products like yours for the past month and you're one of the few who actually supports their product. Congrats!

Ok enough stroking

I realize your product is designed for a different market, but the potential - with a few hopefully minor changes in the next version - could open up your product to quite a few different markets.

Suggested Improvements:

I have 3 suggested improvements and a couple quick comments for your design team:

1. VOX stop recording and DOES NOT start new track

2. Beef up the logging info in your MCRS log file:

3. Extract and save a portion of audio file to a new file

Comment 1: Summary and reason behind this post

Comment 2: One final though before closing - Your Evaluation Version of MCRS software.

OK... Let's jump in!

1. VOX stop recording and DOES NOT start new track

If you really want to make life easier for your users, then duplicate what RecAll-Pro does. Info on RecAll-Pro software:

I want to continuously record 24/7/365 using voice activation and create a new file every hour.
From your help file on How VOX works:

1. VOX waiting when input signal will exceed a threshold. Current status "Scan..."
2. Input signal exceed VOX threshold and record started now. Status "Recording..."
3. This is very important! You can adjust "Reaction Time". If duration of section 3 less when Reaction Time then recording continues, else VOX stop recording and start new track. At this example duration of section 3 less and program still "Recording..." Many music compositions contain a small silent parts. Standard VOX system will split this composition to separate tracks, but our system will split audio only if silent part more then "Reaction Time"
4. Program continues record.
5. Input signal fallen below thrashold, but program will wait for "Reaction time". Still recording.
6. Now record stopped. Status "Scan..."
7. Start new track again!

I've setup the channel properties

with the following settings:Detect Level slider - at approx 1/4 of the way up the sliderDetect time at 2 seconds.

With these settings I can record employee conversation on the designated frequency and allow for silent times. Using the detect time of 2 seconds will create a nice buffer of silence between each stream of audio.

The problem is your program is setup to create a new file every time this scenario happens.

On the Channel Property dialog box - Record Start / Stop Control, it would be nice to have a radio button under Voice Activation with the options for:

VOX stop recording and DOES start new track
VOX stop recording and DOES NOT start new track

See image below:

That way, I can record the frequency 24/7/365 and create a new file every 30 minutes using the following settings:

You will notice in the log for RecAll-Pro, they show for each event - the start time of the event and start/stop time in minutes (where the stream is located within the audio file).

This allows you to load the file in a standard audio editor, move to the start of the audio event you want in the stream and extract the event to save to a new file.

By beefing up your log, it would make it easier to review the event with your current MCRS recording browser:

You could then move your slider quickly to the appropriate time and review the event within the audio stream

Now - to make life easier, include the ability to read the date/time stamp of the audio stream as you move the slider like RecAll-Pro image above.

3. Extract and save a portion of audio file to a new file

RecAll-Pro does an awesome job of extracting an event from an audio file:

As you're playing the audio file, you're watching the date/time code and listening to the audio for the beginning of the event you want to extract. As soon as you hear the beginning, you hit CTRL-M to begin marking the audio stream.

Notice the triangle above the slider.
That's the mark from pressing CTRL-M.

As the audio stream continues to play, the triangles splits.

You continue listening to the recording until you reach the end of the event, then you just press the stop button. See below:

Note.....If you screw up on your timing, just clear the mark and start the process over.

Then just save the event (File - Save As). In the example, I named the file: CapturedTestEvent1.wav

Notice when you open up the saved file at a later time, see below:

You can use the slider bar and move it back and forth, and view the date and time stamp of the file...CapturedTestEvent1.wav
....awesome.

Summary and reason behind this post

RecAll-Pro is used by gazillions of ham, scanner and radio operator to monitor and record frequencies. It's a good program but it's not on the "bleeding edge" of technology and has its limitations:

1. Can't split left and right channels.
2. In order to record multiple channels you have to start a new instance and rely on the operating system to manage the processes.
3. Not updated for today's computer processors.

As a consultant, I'm looking for a company to partner with that's committed to staying on the leading edge of technology .... and understands the philosophy of supporting end users.

Having people on your team like Oleg Tsheglov shows me that you understand this philosophy.

Note to Abyssmedia management .... please provide Oleg with an "atta boy" ... "pat on the back" ... Pay Raise ... or at least a six pack of beer and a bag of pretzels.

I've been on many design teams over the years and I see the potential of your MCRS program in quite a few different markets.

I'm investing my time with this post because you are on the leading edge:

Here's my game plan for the company I'm consulting for:

I plan on organizing an evaluation team within the company I'm consulting for who will take 2 business class Dell laptops (2 gigs of ram and a big hard drive) and fly into each company location and capture events for training and evaluations. After the employees and the company location pass the evaluation, we will deploy a permanent audio capture program utilizing the MCRS software for additional training to meet compliance requirement with the FAA and the clients of the company I'm consulting for.

In my earlier post I mentioned the details:

I need to record conversations at airports around the country between the aircraft pilots and our employees on designated company frequencies. Each station uses 3 different frequencies to simultaneously communicate between the various support team members and the flight crew.

I want to continuously record 24/7/365 using voice activation and create a new file every hour.

The first Dell laptop will have your MCRS software installed with 2 of the following USB 5.1 Channel Sound Adapters from BlackBox:

This will give me 6 channels to capture audio with your MCRS software. 2 channels will be dedicated to the evaluation team who will watch/evaluate the operation and make comments into hand held radios on separate frequencies The other channels will capture the normal operations of the event on company frequencies.

The second laptop will capture video (with date/time stamps) from webcams permanently setup at each company location.

At the end of the evaluation, the audio tracks from the 1st laptop (MCRS software) will be transferred to the 2nd laptop via usb stick, and dumped into Adobe Premiere on separate audio tracks (synced via date time stamp). The captured video from the webcam will go into the video track of Adobe Premier.

The debriefing for the company employees, after operations are over, will be displayed in the multimedia room at each corporate office by plugging in the 2nd laptop and displaying the Adobe Premier program on their large flat panel display.

Using this approach allows the debriefing team to turn on all audio tracks or just individual tracks while playing back the event and provide positive and negative feedback to improve company efficiency.

After the debriefing, everything gets exported to Flash and posted on company intranet so all operations across the company (nationwide) can benifit from the money spent on the evaluation.

One final though before closing - Your Evaluation Version of MCRS software.

You should provide the full blown version of the software will ability to capture multiple audio tracks.

Both versions can be tested during 15 real use days (not calendar days) and further also the next 15 calendar days after the 15th usage day.

Using this approach would allow the project manager of corporations to confirm their RIO - Return On Investment and determine the real world computing horsepower needed to use MCRS software in their environment

Closing

So the ball is in your court...

Contact me if you need a beta tester for the next version.

Using your product with a few mods would allow me to step away from commercial products like: